STARRING in a world famous production like “Footloose” to a home crowd is just a dream for so many performers, but for Olveston girl Joanna Sawyer, it will soon be a reality.

The former Marlwood pupil, is set to take the Bristol Hippodrome by storm next week as “Rusty”, made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1984 film, starring alongside Pop Idol Gareth Gates and 80’s legend Maureen Nolan as Vi Moore.

Having previously toured the country as part of the cast for “Sound of Music” and “West Side Story”, Joanna is no stranger to performing in Bristol, but her latest visit would be her first as one of the show’s leading characters.

Speaking to the Gazette, Joanna humbly said: “I have been really lucky to get this far.

“It is really exciting to be playing one of the lead characters in a show as incredible as Footloose.”

And the importance of a hometown performance isn’t lost on anyone else, as Joanna revealed her mum didn’t want anyone to miss out on the action, buying up 60 tickets to the show.

Joanna said: “I think I have a mix of friends, family and even old drama teachers all coming to watch me perform.”

Paying tribute to the star studded cast, she said: “It has been great to share a stage with Gareth. He is so great to work with and so professional in his performance.

“I have learned so much from Maureen, she has been absolutely amazing!”

She added: “There are 16 people in the cast, every one of them is a star themselves, we are like a big family and it has been fantastic to work with them.

“We have been on tour since February and will be going until we reach Milton Keynes in October.

“Sometimes you wake up and feel exhausted, but the show is so energetic it keeps you going.

“That energy is one of the best things about the show, not just for the cast but the audience too and one of the main reasons people should want to come see it.

“Scenes like the ones where Gareth’s overalls get pulled off to reveal a pair of sparkly hotpants are definitely ones for his fans so they should make sure they are there for that!”

Joanna said that having the chance to perform the legendary 80’s tracks in the show has been one of the biggest highlights, with her favourites being Rusty's song “Let's hear it for the boy” and the classic Bonnie Tyler song “Holding out for a Hero”.

She said: “The crowds really get involved with the songs themselves. Performing in Glasgow on the tour was one to remember as it became one giant karaoke!

“It got so loud I could barely hear myself singing, but for everyone to join in like that was unbelievable.

“But having said that, Bristol will still be the big one for me. It is going to be amazing to be back in the Hippodrome in front of a home crowd.

“I have had to wait a long time to return and I can’t wait.”

Footloose is on at the Bristol Hippodrome from Monday, August 1 to Saturday, August 6.